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    How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine & Crafts
    How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine & Crafts
    How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine & Crafts
    Ebook258 pages1 hour

    How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine & Crafts

    By Frances Densmore

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    "Learn the natural ways of the Chippewa Indians with this great book from Dover." — Texas Kitchen and Garden and More
    The uses of plants — for food, for medicine, for arts, crafts, and dyeing — among the Chippewa Indians of Minnesota and Wisconsin show the great extent to which they understood and utilized natural resources. In this book those traditions are captured, providing a wealth of new material for those interested in natural food, natural cures, and native crafts.
    In separate sections describing the major areas of use, Miss Densmore, an ethnologist with the Smithsonian Institution, details the uses of nearly 200 plants with emphasis on wild plants and lesser-known uses. For those interested in natural foods she gives extensive coverage to the gathering and preparation of maple sugar and wild rice, as well as preparations for beverages from leaves and twigs of common plants, seasonings including mint and bearberry, the methods of preparing wild rice and corn, cultivated and wild vegetables, and wild fruits and berries. On Indian medicines she tells the basic methods of gathering plants and the basic surgical and medical methods. Then she gives a complete list of the plants with their botanical names, uses, parts used, preparation and administration, and other notes and references. Also covered are plants used as charms, plants used in natural dyes, and plants in the useful and decorative arts including uses for household items, toys, mats, twine, baskets, bows, and tools, with special emphasis on the uses of birch bark and cedar. This section will be especially useful for supplying new and unusual craft ideas. In addition, 36 plates show the many stages of plant gathering and preparation and many of the artistic uses. While a number of the plants discussed are native only to the Great Lakes region, many are found throughout a wide range.
    Those studying the Indians of the Great Lakes region, or those trying to get back to nature through understanding and using natural materials, will find much about the use of plants in all areas of community life. Because of Miss Densmore’s deep knowledge and clear presentation, her study remains a rich and useful source for learning about or using native foods, native cures, and native crafts.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDover Publications
    Release dateMar 7, 2012
    ISBN9780486131108
    How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine & Crafts
    Author

    Frances Densmore

    Frances Densmore, born in 1867, was one of the first ethnologists to specialize in the study of American Indian music and culture.

    Read more from Frances Densmore

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      How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine & Crafts - Frances Densmore

      LAKE

      INTRODUCTION

      A majority of the plants to be described in this paper were obtained on the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota. Specimens were also collected on the Red Lake, Cass Lake, Leech Lake, and Mille Lac Reservations in Minnesota, the Lac Court Oreilles Reservation in Wisconsin, and the Manitou Rapids Reserve in Ontario, Canada. Many of these were duplicates of plants obtained at White Earth but others were peculiar to the locality in which they were obtained.

      The White Earth Reservation is located somewhat west of north-central Minnesota, on the border of the prairie that extends westward and forms part of the Great Plains. It also contains the lakes and pine forests that characterize northern Minnesota and extend into Canada. This produces an unusual variety of vegetation, so that the Chippewa living on other reservations are accustomed to go or send to White Earth for many of their medicinal herbs. Birch trees are found in abundance, either standing in groups (pl. 28), covering a hillside, or bordering a quiet lake. There are large tracts of sugar maples and forests of pine, cedar, balsam, and spruce. (Pl. 29. ) Many of the lakes contain rice fields, and there are pretty, pebbly streams winding their way among overhanging trees. (Pl. 30.) Toward the west the prairie is dotted with little lakes or ponds, shining like mirrors. In June the air is sweet with wild roses and in midsummer the fields are beautiful with red lilies, bluebells, and a marvelous variety of color. In autumn the sumac flings its scarlet across the landscape and in winter there are miles of white, untrodden snow. The northern woodland is a beautiful country, and knowing it in all its changing seasons, one can not wonder at the poetry that is so inherent a part of Chippewa thought.

      LIST OF PLANTS ARRANGED ACCORDING TO BOTANICAL NAME

      LIST OF PLANTS ARRANGED ACCORDING TO COMMON NAME

      There is no exact terminology of Chippewa plants, although there are some generally accepted designations of common plants and trees. In obtaining the names of plants it was found that the same name is often given to several plants, and that one plant may have several names. Individuals often had their own names for the plants which they used as remedies. It was also customary for a medicine man, when teaching the use of a plant, to show a specimen of the plant without giving it any name. Thus the identity of the plant was transmitted with more secrecy than would have been possible if a name had been assigned to it. The names by which plants are designated by the Chippewa are usually compound nouns indicating the appearance of the plant, the place where it grows, a characteristic property of the plant, or its principal use. To this is often added a termination indicating the part of the plant which is utilized, as root or leaf.

      Examples of these classes of plant names are as follows:

      Name indicating appearance of the plant: Be‘cigodji’biguk (blue cohosh), becig, one ; djibiguk, root; the plant having a tap root.

      g (tamarack), muckig, swamp; atig, termination indicating wood.

      Name indicating a characteristic property of the plant: Dado‘cabodji’bik (dandelion), dadoaabo, liquid, or milk; odjibik, root.

      Name indicating characteristic use of plant: A‘gimak’ (ash), agim, snowshoe ; ak, termination signifying wood.

      LIST OF PLANTS¹ ARRANGED ACCORDING TO NATIVE NAME

      An investigation was made to determine whether the plants used medicinally by the Chippewa have a recognized use by the white race. Two reports on this subject were courteously prepared by Dr. W. W. Stockberger, physiologist in charge of drug, poisonous and oil plant investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture. The first report shows the medicinal properties of such plants and the second report shows the principal active medicinal constituents of these plants.

      MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF PLANTS USED BY THE CHIPPEWA

      The following 69 plants used by the Chippewa are regarded as medicinal by white people, although opinion as to their therapeutic value varies greatly. The few species now officially recognized in the latest editions of the United States Pharmacopoeia and the National Formulary are designated in the text by the abbreviations U. S. P. IX and N. F. 4, respectively. Species recognized in the eighth revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia but no longer official are indicated by U. S. P. VIII.

      The remaining species, some of which were recognized in the earlier Pharmacopoeias, have long been used either in medicine as practiced by certain physicians or as domestic remedies.

      Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. Balsam. PINACEAE. Pine family.

      Canada balsam, a liquid oleoresin obtained from this tree, is stimulant, diuretic, occasionally diaphoretic and externally rubefacient. U. S. P. VIII. Achillea millefolium L. Yarrow. Milfoil. COMPOSITAE. Composite family.

      The plant is slightly astringent and has been used as an alterative, diuretic, and as a stimulant tonic.

      Acorus calamus L. Sweetflag, calamus. ARACEAE. Arum family.

      The rhizome has been employed as an aromatic stimulant and tonic. U. S. P. VIII.

      Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd. Red baneberry. RANUNCULACEAE. Crowfoot family.

      The rhizome is said to be emeto-purgative and parasiticide.

      Alnus tncana (L.) Moench. Speckled alder. FAGACEAE. Beech family.

      The bark is alterative, astringent, and emetic.

      Apocynum androsaemifolium L. Spreading dogbane. APOCYNACEAE. Dogbane family.

      The root is diuretic, sudorific, emetic, cathartic, and anthelmintic. U. S. P. VIII.

      Armlia nudicaulis L. Wild sarsaparilla. ABAMACEAE. Ginseng family.

      The roots have been used for their gently stimulant, diaphoretic, and alterative action.

      Aralia racemosa L. Spikenard. ARALIACEAE. Ginseng family.

      The root is alterative, stimulant, and diaphoretic.

      Arctium minus Bernh. Burdock. COMPOSITAE. Composite family.

      The root is diuretic, diaphoretic, and alterative. U. S. P. VIII. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. Bearberry. ERICACEAE. Heath family.

      The leaves have mild and slightly antiseptic diuretic properties. U. S. P. IX. Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Torr. Jack-in-the-pulpit. ARACEAE. Arum family.

      Mentioned in unofficial part of United States and King’s Dispensatories. Artemisia absinthium L. Wormwood. Composite. Composite family.

      The leaves and flowering tops are tonic, stomachic, stimulant, febrifuge, and anthelmintic.

      Artemisia draeunculoides Pursh. Fuzzy-weed. COMPOSITAE. Composite family.

      The plant acts as a topical irritant and diaphoretic.

      Asarum can.adense L. Wild ginger. ARTSTOLOCHIACEAE. Birthwort family.

      The rhizome and roots are used as a carminative agent and flavor. N. F. 4. Asclepias incarnata L. Swamp milkweed. ASCLEPIADACEAE. Milkweed family.

      The root is alterative, anthelmintic, cathartic, and emetic.

      Asclepias syriaca L. Milkweed. ASCLEPIADACFAE. Milkweed family.

      The root is tonic, diuretic, alterative, emmenagogue, purgative, and emetic. Athyrium filix-foemina (L.) Roth. Lady fern. POLYPODIACEAE. Fern family.

      Reputed taenicide and formerly so used.

      Bursa bursa-pastoris (L.) Britton. Shepherd’s Purse. CRUCIFERAE. Mustard family.

      This plant was formerly thought to be antiscorbutic.

      Caltha palustris L. Marsh marigold. RANUNCULACEAE. Crowfoot family.

      The plant has been popularly used in the treatment of coughs.

      Caulophyllum thalictroides (L.) Michx. Blue Cohosh. BFRBERIDACEAE. Bar-bery family.

      The rhizome and roots are said to be sedative, diuretic, and emmenagogue. N. F. 4.

      Celastrus scandens L. Bittersweet. CELASTRACEAE. Staff tree family.

      The bark is said to be emetic, diaphoretic, and alterative.

      Cirsium sp. COMPOSITAE. Composite family.

      The related species Cirsium arvense is said to be tonic, diuretic, and astringent.

      Cornus alternifolia L. f. Blue or purple dogwood. CORNACEAE. Dogwood family.

      The bark of the root of the related species, Cornus florida, is a feeble, astringent tonic.

      Cypripedium hirsutum Mill. Showy ladyslipper. ORCHIDACEAE. Orchis family.

      The rhizome and roots have been described as tonic, stimulant, and diaphoretic. N. F. 4.

      Dirca palustris L. Wicopy. THYMELAEACEAE. Mezereum family.

      The berries are said to be narcotic and poisonous. The bark is purgative and emetic and when fresh vesicant.

      Epilobium angustifolium L. Great willow-herb. ONAGRACEAE. Evening primrose family.

      The plant is tonic, astringent, demulcent, and emollient.

      Erigeron canadensis L. Horseweed. COMPOSITAE. Composite family.

      The plant is diuretic, tonic, and astringent.

      Eupatorium maculatum L. Spotted boneset. COMPOSITAE. Composite family.

      The dried leaves and flowering tops are used to prepare a domestic diaphoretic tea. N. F. 4.

      Fragaria virginiana Duchesne. Wild strawberry. ROSACEAE. Rose family.

      The leaves are slightly astringent; the roots diuretic.

      Gaultheria procumbens L. Wintergreen, Checkerberry. ERICACEAE. Heath family.

      The leaves are aromatic and astringent.

      Geranium maculatum L. Cranesbill. GERANIACEAE. Geranium family.

      The rhizome is an absolute intestinal astringent. N. F. 4.

      Heracleum. lanatum Michx. Cow parsnip, beaver root. UMBELLIFERAE. Parsley family.

      The leaves and roots are rubefacient ; the root is said to be carminative and stimulant.

      Koellia virginiana. (L.) MacM. Virginia thyme. LABIATAE. Mint family.

      The plant is diaphoretic, carminative, and tonic.

      Lactuca canadensis L. Wild lettuce. COMPOSITAE. Composite family.

      The juice of the plant is said to be mildly narcotic.

      Larix laricina (DuRoi) Koch. Tamarack. PINACEAE. Pine family.

      The bark is said to be laxative, tonic, diuretic, and alterative.

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